Bill Text: VA HB1480 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Virginia-Ireland Advisory Board; established, report.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced) 2024-02-13 - Left in Rules [HB1480 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2024-HB1480-Introduced.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Title 30 a chapter numbered 42.2, consisting of sections numbered 30-281.3 and 30-281.4, as follows:
§ 30-281.3. Virginia-Ireland Advisory Board; purpose; membership; terms; compensation and expenses; staff.
A. The Virginia-Ireland Advisory Board (the Board) is established in the legislative branch of state government. The purpose of the Board is to advise the Governor and General Assembly on ways to improve economic and cultural links between the Commonwealth and Ireland, with a focus on the areas of commerce and trade, art and education, and general government.
B. The Board shall have a total membership of 10 members that shall consist of five legislative members and five nonlegislative citizen members. Members shall be appointed as follows: three members of the House of Delegates, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates; two members of the Senate, to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules; and five nonlegislative citizen members to be appointed by the Governor. Such nonlegislative citizen members shall include at least (i) one representative from a public institution of higher education; (ii) one representative from the Virginia Chamber of Commerce; and (iii) two individuals who represent Irish American communities or interests, neither of whom shall be members of the same political party. Nonlegislative citizen members of the Board shall be citizens of the Commonwealth.
C. Legislative members of the Board shall serve terms coincident with their terms of office. Nonlegislative citizen members shall be appointed for a term of two years. Appointments to fill vacancies, other than by expiration of a term, shall be for the unexpired terms. All members of the Board may be reappointed. However, no nonlegislative citizen member shall serve more than four consecutive two-year terms. The remainder of any term to which a member is appointed to fill a vacancy shall not constitute a term in determining the member's eligibility for reappointment. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments.
D. The Board shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman from among its membership. A majority of the Board's members shall constitute a quorum. The meetings of the Board shall be held at the call of the chairman or whenever the majority of the members so request.
E. Legislative members of the Board shall receive such compensation as provided in §30-19.12, and nonlegislative citizen members shall receive such compensation for performance of their duties as provided in §2.2-2813. All members shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as provided in §§2.2-2813 and 2.2-2825.
F. The Joint Rules Committee shall appoint an executive director to the Board. Funding for the costs of expenses of the members and the operations of the Board, including staffing needs, shall be from such funds as appropriated by the General Assembly. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Board, upon request.
§30-281.4. Powers and duties of the Board.
The Board shall have the power and duty to:
1. Undertake studies and gather information and data in order to accomplish its purposes as set forth in §30-281.3, and to formulate and present its recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly;
2. Apply for, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations from public, quasi-public, or private sources, including any matching funds as may be designated in the appropriation act, to enable it to better carry out its purposes;
3. Account annually on its fiscal activities, including any matching funds received or expended by the Board; and
4. Submit to the Governor and General Assembly an annual report for publication as a report document as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports. The chairman shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an annual executive summary of the interim activity and work of the Board no later than the first day of each regular session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall be submitted for publication as a report document as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website. The Board may make interim reports to the Governor and the General Assembly as it deems advisable.
